password English · revision 10328

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1798}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpɑːs.wɜːd/, US /ˈpæs.wɝːd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound of [[pass]] and [[word]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A secret word appointed as a sign to tell friend from foe: 1798 in Etymonline, 1799 in Merriam-Webster, about 1817 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense, a watchword or secret of admittance, is from 1836.^(OED 1989) In computing, a sequence of characters that must be typed to gain access to a system is from 1965,^(OED 1989) and ''password-protected'' from 1971.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1798 – a secret word.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1836 – a watchword (figurative).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1965 – a computer password.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1971 – password-protected.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A secret word or phrase used to gain admittance or prove identity.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sequence of characters needed to gain access to a [[computer]] system.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An action or quality that gains acceptance.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[watchword]]

+ * [[shibboleth]]

+ * [[pass]]

+ * [[passport]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}